Hexies

I swore that I would never make a Hexie quilt, but guess what.....     I'm making one.   I found a book that teaches how to make hexagons using a circle and folding technique that is really easy.   It isn't as exact as English Paper Piecing, but it's still very easy and, in the long run, you can't tell that the pieces aren't perfect.    I'm having so much fun making hexies and sewing them together, that I haven't even turned on my sewing machine in a couple of weeks.    Here is the progress so far:

And here is where I'm headed with it:

This design was created by a woman in Sweden named Helena.    Her blog address is:  http://syverkstan-helena.blogspot.com    Take a look at her progress, too!     We're both making the same pattern, but I bet when they're both finished, they will look completely different.    I love her colors with the turquoise.

I love being in the middle of  a big project!

Bunco Sunflowers Quilt

I made this little table runner for a Bunco gift in April 2013.   The theme was Spring.   

Sister's Choice Quilt

I wanted to use up all of my 9 patch blocks that have been made for me by members of my friendship groups.   I think I had over 200 4.5" blocks and have made 3 quilts using these blocks.   I just had a small pile left so wanted to finish the 9 patch blocks.   I used all but 2 in this quilt!   It was inspired by Bonnie Hunter who has been working on her Sister's Choice recently on her blog.   I washed it in the machine when it was finished so it has a nice wrinkly look to it and I like it.    

Kathleen's Block

One of the ladies in my guild,  Kathleen Bond,  asked me last month if I would do a block for her.  She handed me a small block with a basket machine appliqued on it.  She asked that I add anything I wanted to the basket and return it to her next month after signing it.    So,  I added some flowers and a heart to the basket.   I think it turned out really cute.  Hopefully, I'll get a picture of the entire quilt when she gets it finished.   

 

 

In Stitches Patriotic Row Quilt

In 2011, In Stitches did a row exchange that had to be red/white/blue.   Each person made a row (all identical) for every one else in the group that wanted to participate.  Seven members participated.    I tore some of the rows apart to make my quilt so left 4 intact for the borders and rearranged the others for the center.   Finished on 3/25/13.  This quilt is 42" x 55". 

Pineapples

My mini group did a challenge last year.  Everyone had to make a quilt with the pineapple block.   One of the ladies had bought a template ruler that was supposed to make the pineapple block easier so she challenged us all to get the template and try it out... so we did!   I think out of all 12 of us,  4 or 5 of us actually ended up with a finished quilt.   Here is my finished quilt.  

 

This is not my original design.   I saw a picture of a quilt similar and redrew it, eliminating the border and rearranging some of the blocks and the original quilt was red and white.   

Every block in the quilt is the same pineapple block but the position of the colors are what make the pattern.   The quilt is pretty big... about 80" square.   It's quite striking when it's hanging on the wall.  

Poor Old Quilts

Yesterday I spoke with a man that I have known for many years and he has always admired my quilts, commenting about them every time I put a new one up in my office.    He told me that he was selling some of his mother's things and that she had some quilts he wanted to sell but he didn't know how much they were worth.   I told him that I would love to look at them so he dropped them off for me to view.   I knew that he was a smoker and wondered if I would be able to handle the smell, not being a smoker myself and always hating the smoke odor.   What I didn't know was that his mother and sister who lived with him for over 20 years are ALL chain smokers!  When he dropped the quilts off, they were all in plastic bags.  Plastic bags that were supposed to be CLEAR!   These were yellow/brown. Oh man......   

  I didn't know what to do with them.  They were stinking up the whole office and I couldn't put them outside because it was raining and I certainly didn't want to put them in my car.   I finally decided to put them all into a giant trash bag and tie it up.   That pretty much worked.    When I got them home, I just left them out in the garage and opened the bag up and took one out.   Now, I know you're not supposed to wash old quilts in the washing machine but I considered this quilt to be completely worthless the way it was and I even know people that would have just taken the whole lot straight to the dumpster, so I just stuck it in the washing machine and added soap and turned it on.   Ok... so I didn't really agitate it.   I smashed the quilt down with my hand (big mistake.... I couldn't get the smell out of my skin! *GAG*).   I soaked and rinsed and pushed, and soaked and rinsed and pushed for a couple of hours.   The water was BROWN over and over again.  Hubby wanted me to put some bleach in the water.. lol.     Finally, it seemed like it might be getting cleaner.   So I layed it out on the living room floor and let it dry overnight.   It still has an odor and the white parts are not white, but I think it now might be worth something.  



 It's a grandmother's flower garden and probably made in the 30s or 40s.   One of the fabrics is deteriorated and there are some brown spots on the front and back.   But here it is. 
Poor old thing....   It could still use another washing,  but overall, not a bad quilt.    I'll take it to my friend that collects old quilts.   I don't think she'll want it, but maybe can give me an idea of what it's worth. 

I think there are still 4 or 5 quilts in the bag and there are several crocheted items, including a huge bed covering and some embroidered doilies.    I'll just take care of them one at a time and see what's there and how much is worth saving, for the love of quilting......